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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has called for more leadership amid the nationwide protests surrounding police brutality, racial injustice and systemic racism.

  • Johnson also pledged his support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
  • Johnson said there needs to be “compassionate leadership” amid all the protests.
  • Johnson does not mention President Donald Trump in his video. But his words hint that he’s talking about the president in his call for leadership.

What Johnson said:

  • “Where are you? Where is our leader? Where is our leader at this time when our country is down on its knees, begging, pleading, hurt, angry, frustrated, in pain with its arms out, just wanting to be heard?”
  • “Where is our compassionate leader who’s going to step up to our country who’s down on its knees, and extend a hand and say, ‘You stand up, stand up with me because I got you. I hear you, I’m listening to you. And you have my word that I’m going to do everything in my power, until my dying day, my last breath, to do everything I can to create the change that is needed, to normalize equality because black lives matter.’ Where are you?” 
  • “There is military force that has been deployed on our own people. Looters? Yes. Criminals? Absolutely. But our protesters who are begging and pleading, our protesters who are in pain. … You know you would be surprised how people in pain would respond when you say to them ‘I care about you.’ When you say to them ‘I’m listening to you.’ You’d be surprised how people would respond — how Americans would respond.”
  • “We must become the leaders we are looking for. I’ll ask it one more time: Where are you? Where is that compassionate leader who steps up and takes accountability for his country and all the people in our country? Where are you? I’ll tell you what, we’re here. We’re all here. The process to change has already begun. You can feel it across our country. Change is happening. It’s going to take time. We’re going to get beat up. We’re going to take our lumps. There’s going to be blood, but the process of change has already begun.”
  • “Of course, all lives matter, but in this moment right now, this defining, pivotal, explosive moment where our country is down on its knees … we must say the words: Black lives matter.”

Context for Johnson

  • Johnson has flirted with the idea of running for political office in the future. In 2017, he said it was a “real possibility” that he would run for president, as the Deseret News reported.
  • Johnson told GQ: “A year ago, it started coming up more and more. There was a real sense of earnestness, which made me go home and think ‘Let me really rethink my answer and make sure I am giving an answer that is truthful and also respectful.’ I didn’t want to be flippant — ‘We’ll have three days off for a weekend! No taxes!’”
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  • Johnson said at the time that strong leadership is something he values.
  • “With any job you come into, you’ve got to prove yourself,” he said. “And, personally, I feel that if I were president, poise would be important. Leadership would be important. Taking responsibility for everybody.”
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